The Single Factor
The Single Factor, released in 1982, is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. The album was essentially a contractual obligation album, created under pressure from Decca Records to produce a hit single, and the "made-to-order" nature of its composition resulted in a selection of songs described as "odd" on the band's official website.[3] Unlike previous Camel albums, The Single Factor consists exclusively of shorter compositions around 3 to 5 minutes in length.
| The Single Factor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1982[1] | |||
| Recorded | January–February 1982 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road Studios (London) | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 39:01 | |||
| Label | Gama/Decca | |||
| Producer | Tony Clarke, Andy Latimer and Haydn Bendall for Gama Records Ltd. | |||
| Camel chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Guitarist Andrew Latimer was the only original member remaining, although original keyboardist Peter Bardens returned for a guest appearance on 'Sasquatch'. According to the liner notes, original drummer Andy Ward, who had appeared in all previous Camel albums, was now absent "following a serious injury to his hand". In reality the injury was self-inflicted, and years later it was revealed that he was forced to retire due to mental health problems.[4]
The album was reissued on 8 September 2009 by Esoteric Recordings with a bonus version of "You Are the One".
Background and recording
Anthony Phillips, an original member of Genesis, is featured on the album, playing guitar, organ and synthesizer. According to Phillips, a song "with big Genesis-sounding, slightly choral keyboard phrases with super soaring guitar over it" was also recorded for the album, but the band decided to leave it off "because it didn't have 'the Single Factor'."[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Notes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Easy Answer" | Andrew Latimer | Personnel:
| 2:59 |
| 2. | "You Are the One" | Latimer | Personnel:
| 5:25 |
| 3. | "Heroes" | Latimer, Susan Hoover | Personnel:
| 4:52 |
| 4. | "Selva" (instrumental) | Latimer | Personnel:
| 3:34 |
| 5. | "Lullabye" | Latimer | Personnel:
| 0:59 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Notes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sasquatch" (instrumental) | Latimer | Personnel:
| 4:44 |
| 2. | "Manic" | Latimer, Hoover | Personnel:
| 4:28 |
| 3. | "Camelogue" | Latimer, Hoover | Personnel:
| 3:44 |
| 4. | "Today's Goodbye" | Latimer, Hoover | Personnel:
| 4:10 |
| 5. | "A Heart's Desire" | Latimer, Hoover | Personnel:
| 1:11 |
| 6. | "End Peace" (instrumental) | Latimer, Anthony Phillips | Personnel:
| 2:55 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "You Are the One" (Edited version) | 3:49 |
Personnel
- Andy Latimer – lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, Mellotron (B 2), organ (B 4), bass (B 2), flute (A 3)
- David Paton – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals (A 3)
- Chris Rainbow – backing vocals, lead vocals (B 5)
- Anthony Phillips – organ (A 3, B 2), grand piano (A 3, B 2, 6), Polymoog (B 2, 6), ARP 2600 (B 6), marimba (B 6), acoustic guitar (A 4), 12-string guitar (B1)
- Graham Jarvis – drums
- Peter Bardens – organ, Minimoog (B1)
- Haydn Bendall – Yamaha CS80 synthesizer (A 3)
- Duncan Mackay – Prophet synthesizer (A 4)
- Francis Monkman – Synclavier (B 2)
- Dave Mattacks – drums (A 3)
- Simon Phillips – drums (B 1)
- Tristan Fry – glockenspiel (B 2)
- Jack Emblow – accordion (B 5)
Production
- Tony Clarke – engineer
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] | 10 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[7] | 32 |
| Spain (AFYVE)[8] | 30 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[9] | 57 |
References
- "Camel official site".
- Jehnzen, Daevid. "The Single Factor - Camel | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- "Official Camel Website - Camel Timeline 1982-2000". Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- "A Drummer's Tale". Andy Ward official website. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. p. 315. ISBN 0-7043-8036-6.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Camel – The Single Factor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Camel – The Single Factor". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Camel | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 8 April 2022.